### 20.10 Creating ALinks for Oracle Help

An ALink keyword in Oracle Help for Java must consist of a single term; no spaces or punctuation. An ALink jump can specify only one ALink keyword.

Oracle Help for Java uses a link file for ALinks (regular JavaHelp does not support ALinks). DITA2Go creates the ALink file for Oracle Help, by default. However, if you know you are not using ALinks, you can save a little time and disk space by directing DITA2Go not to include this file:

    [OracleHelpOptions]
    ; MakeALinkFile = Yes (default, include OracleHelp ALinks) or No
    MakeALinkFile = No

You can determine whether ALinks go to the beginning of the referenced topic file, or to the beginning of the paragraph that contains the ALink keyword. The default is the beginning of the topic file:

    [OracleHelpOptions]
    ; ALinkRefs = File (default) or Para (start of containing para)
    ALinkRefs = File

For ways to include ALink keywords and ALink jumps in your DITA document, see §16.6 Providing related-topic links for Help systems.

To create a “pool” of ALinks, where every instance serves both as a jump and a target, you can use a format combined with DITA2Go macros. For example, suppose you designate paragraph format AlinkUse for this purpose. You could create an ALink reference and get both an ALink keyword (which makes the current topic a member of the group) and a hotspot that calls up that list of topics:

    [HtmlStyles]
    ;  ALink uses the contents of the para for the value of the ALink
    ;  Name parameter of an ALink object.
    ALinkUse = ALink CodeBefore CodeAfter

    [StyleCodeBefore]
    ALinkUse = <a href="alink:

    [StyleCodeAfter]
    ALinkUse = ">Related Topics</a>

When you assemble ALink jumps using macros, you do not access DITA2Go code that automatically interprets the alink protocol (see §16.6.5.1 Configuring ALink jumps); what you build is passed through to Oracle Help unaltered.

Previous Topic: 20.9 Linking to destinations within topics

Next Topic: 20.11 Merging JavaHelp or Oracle Help systems

Parent Topic: 20. Generating JavaHelp or Oracle Help

Sibling Topics:

20.1 Deciding which Java Help system to use

20.2 Obtaining tools for a Java-based Help system

20.3 Setting up a JavaHelp or Oracle Help project

20.4 Generating contents and index

20.5 Providing full-text search for JavaHelp / Oracle Help

20.6 Creating and viewing a Java Archive (JAR) file

20.7 Converting a glossary to JavaHelp 2

20.8 Defining windows for JavaHelp or Oracle Help

20.9 Linking to destinations within topics

20.11 Merging JavaHelp or Oracle Help systems

20.12 Setting up CSH for JavaHelp or Oracle Help